Propagation of Wollemi pine from tip cuttings and lower segment cuttings does not require rooting hormones

Abstract

Domestication of the recently discovered and highly endangered Wollemi pine has relied almost entirely upon serial propagation of cuttings from a very small conservation collection. This study assessed the requirement for applied auxin to induce rooting in tip cuttings and lower segment cuttings of Wollemi pine. Both types of cuttings proved easy-to-root, with mean rooting of 71% for tip cuttings and 82% for lower segments. Auxin application (at 1.5, 3.0 or 8.0 g indole-3-butyric acid/L) did not accelerate root protrusion from propagation tubes or affect final rooting percentages.